#222221 Hex Color
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This near-black grey sits on the edge of complete darkness, providing a stable, moody anchor for minimalist designs. The hex code #222221 functions best as a soft background alternative to pure black, offering higher readability when paired with white text. It carries a professional, restrained presence that works well for dark mode interfaces where stark contrasts feel too aggressive for the user.
Questions about #222221
What is #222221 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #222221 is rgb(34, 34, 33), in HSL hsl(60, 1%, 13%) and in CMYK 0%, 0%, 3%, 87%. Browse more shades of black with names and hex codes.
Is #222221 a better background choice than pure black?
Yes, #222221 is often superior to pure black because it reduces eye strain and perceived flicker on screen-based displays. It creates a softer, more grounded aesthetic that feels less jarring against white text, making it ideal for modern web interfaces.
Is #222221 readable on white or black?
#222221 has a 15.92:1 contrast ratio on white and 1.31:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it works for body text and on black it is too faint for text. Try other pairs in the contrast checker.